RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON TRICHINELLOSIS


  1. PREAMBLE
  2. PURPOSES
  3. MEMBERSHIP
  4. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
  5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  6. SECRETARIAT
  7. SECRETARY GENERAL
  8. REVISION OF BY-LAWS

1. PREAMBLE

1a. Origins

The International Commission on Trichinellosis (ICT) was created in 1958 in Budapest at the Meeting of the Hungarian Parasitologists, and it was reaffirmed: (1) in 1960 in Warsaw at the First International Conference on Trichinellosis, and (2) at each of the International Conferences on Trichinellosis subsequently sponsored by ICT.

1b. Nature and Affíliations

ICT is a world-wide organization of individuals who are interested in. any aspect of trichinellosis.

The Commission is an autonomous organization. It is a member of the World Federation of Parasitologists, through which it is affíliated with the International Union of Biological Sciences. The Commission may co-operate with international organizations (e.g., WHO) or national organizations (e.g., Polish Parasitological Society), and is empowered to accept donations from such institutions to support or promote the function of the Commission.

 

2. PURPOSES

The principal purposes of the Commission are research on, and control of trichinellosis. The principal functions of the Commission are:

  1. the promotion and developement of studies relating to all phases of the trichinellosis in humans and animals, and
  2. the scheduling of an International Conference every four years for presentation of reports on relevant subjects, for planning of future activities, and for updating of organizational matters.

In addition, the Commission may organize or assist in the organization of national or international congresses, symposia, colloquia or workshops that deal in whole or in part with Trichinella and/or trichinellosis.

 

3. MEMBERSHIP

There shall be three categories of members: active, retired and honorary.

3a. Active Members

3a. (i) Election

Active Members may be elected at Business Meetings of ICT (generally held in association with international conferences of (ICT or ICOPA) by vote of Active Members in attendance. Nominations may be made from the floor or may be submitted by the ICT Executive Committee. Election will be by majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee (vide infra.)

Also, in the interval between international conferences, nominations for membership may be made by members of the Commission by notifying the Secretary General. The signatures of at least two members are required for each nomination. In these instances, a majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee (canvassed by the Secretary General) is required for election.

Nominees shall be selected from among individuals who are actively interested in any aspect of Trichinella and the disease it produces.

The number of Active Members of the Commission shall not be limited, but, as a rule, countries in which the reporting of scientific work or pertinent events concerning tichinellosis is not extensive, will have only one representative; and countries in which such reporting is extensive may have from two to five representatives.

3a. (ii) Duties of Active Members

Persons elected to membership must indicate in writing to the Secretary General their acceptance of membership, and of its privileges and obligations:

assistance to the Secretary General, by correspondence, in the conduct of his/her office in the period between international conferences,
participation in meetings of the Commission, either in person or by written contributions,
transmittal to the Secretary General of permanent current information in English of publications or news concerning trichinellosis in his/her own country, and,

periodic transmittal to the Secretary General of epidemiologic data relating to trichinellosis in humans, swine, other domestic animals, and wild animals in his/her own country. Where there are two or more representative of a given country, a joint report may be submitted, or one of the representatives may by mutual consent prepare the report. Reports will be submitted every two years, unless other arrangements are made with the Secretary General.

3b- Retired Members

Members, who have retired, but who remain interested may request to be designated as Retired Members; indeed they are urged to do so because this will open positions that can be fílled by a more active representative of the same country.

Retired Members will not have the duties of active members, but will continue to receive ICT announcements, newsletters, etc., but not the proceedings of ICT conferences, except in special circumstances. Retired Members will be listed as such in the ICT rolls.

3c. Honorary Members

3c. (i) Election

Individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of trichinellosis may be elected to honorary membership. They may be Active or Retired Members who have contributed in exceptional measure to our knowledge of trichinellosis in regard to research, public health administration, education, control or other aspect. In any case, honorary membership will be reserved for those who have made truly outstanding contributions to ICT or to the understanding of trichinellosis.

Nominations for honorary membership must be made in writing and must be supported by the signatures of at least two Active Members. Election will be by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Executive Committee. Secret balloting will be conducted by the Secretary General at any properly constituted meeting of the Committee, or by mail.

3c. (ii) Privileges

Honorary members will have no specific dues but will receive copies of ICT newsletters, announcements, and the Proceedings of ICT conferences.

 

4. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

An Active or Retired Member may resign at any time by written request. Active or Retired Members who do not respond to enquiries from the Secretary General concerning their membership status will be removed from the roster, after due notification. Membership may be terminated also by a two-thirds vote of members attending a Business Meeting of a Conference. The Commission regards Honorary Membership an Honor that is bestowed for life.

 

5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

An Executive Committee of seven Active Members shall be elected by members at an International Conference on Trichinellosis. At least four months before a Conference, the Secretary General shall appoint a Nominating Committee (three members, including a chairperson) from among the members to compile a list of nominees. Also, nominations may be made from the floor at the time of the Business Meeting at a Conference. After the election, the Executive Committee shall elect from among its own members a President, Vice-President and Secretary General, who shall serve until the election of the Executive Committee during the next International Conference. The President, or in his/her absence, the Vice-President shall preside at meetings and shall direct the work of the Secretary General, who shall conduct the organizational work of the Commission. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Committee during the interval between Conferences, the Secretary General shall submit the names of at least three members to be considered; the vacancy shall be filled by the person who receives the largest number of votes by the remaining members of the Executive Committee, excluding the Secretary General."Members of ICT Executive Committee can only hold their position for 8 years (two ICT periods). Periods for which a member serves as president or general secretary are being subtracted. Re-election can take place after 8 years of normal ICT membership. The ICT President serves one period (4 years) as past president after his election period."

 

6. SECRETARIAT

The office of the Commission shall be that of the Secretary General.

 

7. SECRETARY GENERAL

7a. General functions

The Secretary General shall maintain contact not only with members of the Commission, but also directly or indirectly with other persons and organizations interested in trichinellosis, and in the functions of the Commission.

7b. Specific functions

Specific duties of the Secretary General are as follows:

i. dissemination of information concerning trichinellosis to scientists and other interested persons,

ii preparation of factual statements and responsible opinions concerning various aspects of the disease for use by national and international institutions and organizations,

iii publication of original research papers submitted by scientific community, surveys, epidemiologic information, and pertinent abstracts of reports relating toTrichinella and trichinellosis and

iv correspondence with interested persons and organizations concerning collaboration and exchange of views, experiences, and materials relating to trichinellosis.

8. REVISION OF BY-LAWS

The rules and regulations may be changed by a majority vote of Active Members present at any properly scheduled Business Meeting of ICT (ordinarily held in association with an international conference of ICT or ICOPA). For this purpose, 10 Active will constitute a quorum.